Individuals who qualify for and are receiving basic maintenance in the form of cash grants and in some cases, social services, from a governmental source; or who are entitled to benefits based on their own or their employer's contributions to a social insurance program.

Professionals, paraprofessionals and/or family members or friends who assume responsibility for attending to the daily needs of individuals who are temporarily or permanently unable to completely care for themselves due to general frailty; illnesses, injuries or progressively debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or mental illness; or other incapacitating problems.

Individuals who have needs and interests in common on the basis of their status as citizens of a particular country or nation or on that of their legal presence in that country on a permanent or temporary basis.

Physical, sensory, developmental, cognitive, mental or emotional impairments, illnesses or injuries that prevent or interfere with an individual's ability to perform intellectual or physical tasks that are normally within the range of human capability, or which significantly limit one's mobility or level of activity.

Individuals who are students, school dropouts or graduates of a particular level within the formal education system or who have needs and interests based on their exceptional intellectual abilities or the level and type of education they have received.

The parents, children, spouses, partners, siblings, friends or significant others of people who have specific disabilities, medical diagnoses, personal losses or other problems whose own patterns of personal, social and familial coping have been significantly affected by ongoing interaction with and concern about the individual or who are dealing with the crisis or the ongoing effects of the situation. Also included are people who, because of a multitude of factors, are at risk for experiencing problems that threaten their health, safety, personal development, economic security or other aspects of their well-being.

Individuals who are affiliated with one of the branches of the armed forces as active duty enlisted men/women or officers, retired career military or veterans; or are contracted by the military to perform specific duties.

Individuals who are involved in legal proceedings, including administrative hearings as a defendant; or who have committed acts that have been defined as indictable offences and summary conviction offences by federal or provincial laws or municipal or local ordinances and are currently under required supervision by the criminal justice system.

Organizations and individual practitioners who have a particular religious, political or philosophical orientation that influences the types of services they offer and/or the way their services are delivered.

Voluntary organizations whose members adhere to, profess or entertain the same religious creed, persuasion or tenets and usually meet on a regular basis for the purpose of worship, religious instruction and support for the group's ministry. Religious beliefs usually include a system of ethics, a philosophy of life, dogma regarding the nature and role of one or more deities, and a body of doctrine which governs religious observances and practices.

The biologically determined (or surgically adopted) sex of individuals which may be the foundation for commonalities among people of the same gender as a result of similar experiences, concerns or expectations. "Sex" refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. "Gender" refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. "Male" and "female" are sex categories, while "masculine" and "feminine" are gender categories.

The emotional and sexual focus an individual has concerning the gender of people she or he looks to for social and personal need gratification, the feelings a person has about his or her gender, or the preference one has concerning his or her sex role appearance.

Individuals who have suffered physical injury, emotional distress and/or loss of property as the result of an actual or attempted criminal offence by another person or through a destructive act of nature.

Programs that publish directories, distribute pamphlets and other literature, conduct outreach campaigns, offer technical assistance and training or provide other services which deal with a particular topic, issue or problem area.